THE demolition of Dudley Bus Station has been getting underway as work to modernise transport in the town and across the region gathers pace.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, was in Dudley to see the demolition work begin – paving the way for the creation of a new integrated bus and Metro Interchange.

Mr Street got a bird’s eye view of the demolition team as they removed the sign from the old bus station, which opened in 1986.

Taking to social media platform X on Monday (March 11), he said: “Today we tore down the decrepit Dudley Bus Station sign as we continue our demolition of the old station to make way for a state-of-the-art interchange.

“It’s all part of the transformation of Dudley town centre, sparked by the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill metro extension.”

The old bus station is being replaced with a new state-of-the-art interchange that will offer passengers a seamless connection between bus and Metro services.

Work on the Metro extension, which is being delivered by the Midland Metro Alliance, is gathering pace and when complete trams will run from the town to Dudley Zoo and Castle and to the Black Country Living Museum.

Councillor Paul Bradley, Dudley Council’s deputy leader, said: “There is a transport revolution underway in Dudley with key projects taking shape.

"The new transport interchange is absolutely central to the gathering momentum to create world-class transport facilities in Dudley borough and I am delighted to see the start of this important project.

“When complete it will bring more people, give businesses and tourism a boost and continue our drive to regenerate Dudley.”

Phase two of the Metro extension will connect Dudley town centre and Brierley Hill, including Merry Hill shopping centre, and work is due to start next year following confirmation of full funding last autumn in the Government’s Network North announcement.

As work got underway at the bus station, the mayor also unveiled a map showing how towns and locations across the region will be linked up through a renewed transport network.

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) is investing £6.1 billion to expand Metro, bus, rail, cycling and walking networks to better connect people to job and leisure opportunities across the region and to help deliver a green transport revolution.